Chicago is America's undisputed leader in using tax increment financing (TIF) to spur economic development. But what is the city getting in exchange for its efforts to fight blight? A new paper says: Not much.

Bill Peduto isn't waiting for his presumptive election as Pittsburgh's mayor next month to detail his vision for creating a more livable city. He's calling for an 11-block stretch of Smithfield Street in Downtown to become a grand boulevard.